Photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel

Abstract

A photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel includes a plurality of natural polymer macromers cross-linked with a plurality of hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links. The hydrogel is cytocompatible and produces substantially non-toxic products upon degradation.

1. A photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel comprising:
 a plurality of saccharides cross-linked with a plurality of cross-links that are degradable in vivo, the hydrogel being cytocompatible and, upon degradation, producing substantially non-toxic products, wherein the cross-links comprise hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links selected from the group consisting of Formula I 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and Formula II 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and wherein R 1  and R 2  are the same or different saccharides. 
     
     
       2. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 1 , each of R 1  and R 2  comprising an alginate main chain. 
     
     
       3. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 1 , R 1  comprising an alginate main chain and R 2  comprising a heparin main chain. 
     
     
       4. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 1  further including at least one cell dispersed within or on the photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel. 
     
     
       5. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 4 , the at least one cell comprising a progenitor cell. 
     
     
       6. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 4  further including at least one attachment molecule to couple the at least one cell to the photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel. 
     
     
       7. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 6 , the at least one attachment molecule being acrylated or methacrylated. 
     
     
       8. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 1  further including a bioactive agent that modulates a function and/or characteristic of a cell. 
     
     
       9. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 8 , the bioactive agent including any agent capable of regulating a cell behavior and/or targeting a specific disease state. 
     
     
       10. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 8 , wherein release of the bioactive agent from the hydrogel is dependent on the size and composition of the hydrogel. 
     
     
       11. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 1  further including a carrier material dispersed on or within the hydrogel, the carrier material including a bioactive agent for modulating a function and/or characteristic of a cell. 
     
     
       12. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 1 , the hydrogel comprising a microparticle or a nanoparticle. 
     
     
       13. A photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel comprising:
 a plurality of saccharides cross-linked with a plurality of hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links that can be hydrolyzed in vivo, the hydrogel being cytocompatible and, upon degradation, producing substantially non-toxic products, wherein the hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links are selected from the group consisting of Formula I 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and Formula II 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and wherein R 1  and R 2  are the same or different saccharides. 
     
     
       14. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 13  further including at least one cell dispersed within or on the photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel. 
     
     
       15. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 14  further including at least one attachment molecule to couple the at least one cell to the photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel. 
     
     
       16. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 13  further including a bioactive agent that modulates a function and/or characteristic of a cell. 
     
     
       17. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 16 , wherein release of the bioactive agent from the hydrogel is dependent on the size and composition of the hydrogel. 
     
     
       18. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 13  further including a carrier material dispersed on or within the hydrogel, the carrier material including a bioactive agent for modulating a function and/or characteristic of a cell. 
     
     
       19. The photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel of  claim 13 , the hydrogel comprising a microparticle or a nanoparticle. 
     
     
       20. A method for forming a photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel, the method comprising:
 reacting at least one crosslinkable acryl group with at least one saccharide to form a mixture comprising a plurality of acrylated macromers, the acryl group including at least one hydrolyzable linkage; 
 contacting the mixture with a photoinitiator to initiate cross-linking of the macromers; and 
 exposing the mixture to a light source to initiate cross-linking of the macromers and thereby form a plurality of saccharides cross-linked with a plurality of hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links selected from the group consisting of Formula I 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and Formula II 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and wherein R 1  and R 2  are the same or different saccharides. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , further including dispersing at least one cell within or on the photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , the hydrogel further including at least one attachment molecule to couple the at least one cell to the photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , further including dispersing a bioactive agent in the hydrogel that modulates a function and/or characteristic of a cell. 
     
     
       24. A method for promoting tissue growth in a subject comprising:
 administering a photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel to a target site in the subject, the hydrogel comprising a plurality of saccharides cross-linked with a plurality of hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links and at least one cell dispersed on or within the hydrogel, the hydrogel being cytocompatible and producing substantially non-toxic products upon degradation, wherein the hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links are selected from the group consisting of Formula I 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and Formula II 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and wherein R 1  and R 2  are the same or different saccharides.